Master theses: Skyrmions in anisotropic chiral magnets

 

Chiral magnetism or more specifically topological magnetic skyrmions in chiral magnets are one of the most exciting current topics in condensed matter physics. Magnetic skyrmions are two-dimensionally localised magnetic excitations that are metastable over macroscopic times and behave like single particles. They are promising for low-power memory and/or logic architectures due to their small size and potential for manipulation using ultra-low current densities. The stability of the skyrmions result from a competition of different magnetic and relativistic exchange interactions such as the Heisenberg and the Dyzaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. Aim of the thesis is to determine these interactions for interesting materials from the basic laws of quantum mechanics using very sophisticated first-principles methods based on density functional theory. So far the community focussed on axisymmetric skyrmions. In this thesis we look at materials with potential for antiskyrmions.

Master Thesis contents:

• Introduction to spin-lattice models including Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction
• Introduction to ab-initio methodology to perform interaction parameters for real materials
• Determining interaction parameters for ultrathin magnetic films
• Using a multiscale approach, skyrmions or antiskyrmion profiles using calculated parameters

Your Profile:
The candidate should have a

• a good motivation to enjoy research in an excellent environment
• it is expected to have a solid background in solid state physics, and to have motivation to dive into computational physics

What We Offer:

• Excellent guidance and mentoring.
• Research in a friendly, multitopical and international setting
• as well as a cooperative work environment in a dynamical institute.
• A fantastic research and computational infrastructure

Contact:
Prof. Stefan Blügel
Peter Grünberg Institut (PGI) &
Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS)
Forschungszentrum Jülich
D-52425 Jülich, Germany

tel: +49-2461-61-4249
email: s.bluegel@fz-juelich.de

For further information please contact Prof. Blügel or visit our website at http://www.fz-juelich.de/pgi/pgi-1.